04 SD Steering ?'s
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04 SD Steering ?'s
I saw another post about steering wheel freeplay and have another steering question for you SD owners. Does anyone else have an issue with the ease of turning the wheel while at a dead stop on the pavement? My 04 truck will not turn the wheels unless I am rolling a bit. My old F250 (1988) could rotate them back and forth all day long and it didn't matter where. Granted, I have 37/12.50's on it but I have also had larger then stock tires on just about everything else that I've owned and never had an issue with the power steering not being able to rotate the tires back and forth. Do you guys see this issue on your truck? Are you running oversized tires? Do I need to get a new p. steering pump? BTW When I'm in loose gravel is seem to be much better. Thanks
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i have the same issue on my 05. I believe it's because the brake and power steerign run off the same pump. try puttin it in park/neutural and take your foot off the brake, usually allows for easier turning. I do have oversized tires as well.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by FourbynFord
Do you guys see this issue on your truck? Are you running oversized tires? Do I need to get a new p. steering pump? BTW When I'm in loose gravel is seem to be much better. Thanks
The reason turning your wheels back and forth on gravel or even dirt are better...is because your tires have more "give". On pavement a lot less forgiveness.
With the size tires you are running...IMO...what you are experiencing is completely NORMAL.
Hope this helps...
biz
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The motor is a Diesel and the tire size is 37/12.50 R 17. The believe the stock tires are roughly 9 to 10"s wide so I wouldn't think that an extra couple of inches of width should make much of a difference. Like I said I've ran oversize tires on past vehicles without this problem. The more I'm hearing though the more i think it's an inherant problem to the steering system itself. Please keep any ideas of how to rectify this problem coming. Does anyone know if there is a high output p.steering unit availible for the diesel super duties? Thanks
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From: Georgia
Without giving a boring physics lesson, the design of the trucks front solid axle is the biggest culprit. I guess since you are running 37s it is a 4X4. Anyway take a close look underneath at the location of the ball joints. They are a couple of inches to the middle of the truck compared to the center of the rim. This means the wheels are actually trying to roll as you turn the wheel. By having the brakes pressed they are working against each other. To answer your question most SD owners experience this to some degree. Especially the diesel owners since the brakes and PS work off of the same pump as babbabuee stated.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by FourbynFord
The motor is a Diesel and the tire size is 37/12.50 R 17. The believe the stock tires are roughly 9 to 10"s wide so I wouldn't think that an extra couple of inches of width should make much of a difference. Please keep any ideas of how to rectify this problem coming. Thanks
I was having the same issue as you are...except it was with all stock OEM size tires. I did a power steering fluid flush...and the problem went away.
Might help in your case...
biz
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